Can opener



Nov. 26, 1957 D. K. HON, JR., .ETIAL 2,814,102

CAN OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 24, 1956 INVENTORS' DAN K.Hov4,. An 6 PHILUP RBmnwEm.

ATTQQNEY-$ Nov. 26, 1957 Filed Aug. 24, 1956 D. K. HON, JR, ET AL CAN OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS DAN K.HQM, M'. PH\LL\P szmweu %E%WS&QM +$M n ATTOQH EYE) United States Patent CAN OPENER Dan K. Hon, I13, and Phillip P. Bridwell, Paris, Ill.

Application August 24, 1956, Serial No. 606,061

1 Claim. (Cl. 30-61) This invention relates generally to improvements in can punches of the type producing diametrically opposed pouring and air vent openings in the top of a can.

The patent to D. F. Sampson et al., 1,996,550 of April 5, 1935 discloses a container punch which is of the lever type and includes an arcuately curved cutter-punch adjacent one end of the lever and a lug for engaging the bead of a can top faced inwardly from the cutter-punch wherein the cutter-punch is rotated upwardly by a user of the same, the lug serving as a fulcrum and not as a punch. It is generally necessary to make two opposed diametrically opposite holes in the top of a container, such as a 'beer can, in order to facilitate the pouring of the liquid therefrom and the entrance of air therein.

The primary object of the invention is to provide generally superior devices of this kind, which are efiicient and reliable in operation, are easily used, and are rugged and serviceable because of their construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved can punches of the character indicated, which are readily and economically manufactured, are easily used, and are highly satisfactory, practical and acceptable for the purpose intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several rims, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention, showing the same applied to a can top shown in phantom lines;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan View of said can top punch;

Figure 4 is a perspective view, on a reduced scale, of another form of the invention;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of another form of the invention, shown applied to a can top shown in phantom lines;

Figure 7 is a contracted bottom plan view of the can top punch of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View taken substantially on line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a fragmentary portion of a container, such as a beer can, indicated generally at 10, is shown, said container including a side wall portion 12, a top wall 14, and a peripheral bead 16.

The can top punch shown in Figures 1 to 3 and indicated generally at 18 comprises an elongated flat lever 20 including a handle portion 22 which may have conveniently formed in one side edges thereof near its rear end with a bottle cap opener 24. Struck downwardly from an intermediate portion of the lever 20 is a down- 7 2,814,102 Patented Nov. 26, 1957 wardly and forwardly curved triangular rear punch 26 terminating at its lower end in a point 25 and having sharpened side edges 27, as seen in Figure 1. For reinforcing the intermediate portion of the lever 20 from which the rear punch 26 is struck, the lever incorporates along opposite side edges thereof adjacent the opening 28, left by the rear punch 26, a pair of upstanding reinforcing ribs 32 and 34.

The forward part of the lever 20 is bent into a forwardly and upwardly angulated U-shaped portion 36 which extends above the upper surface 38 of the lever and includes a rear arm 40 and a forward arm 44. The forward arm extends below the plane of the lever 20 and terminates in a point 43 and has sharpened side edges 45. Extending forwardly from the arm 44 is a can top bead engaging lug 46 which extends downwardly and forwardly from the arm 44. The punch 42 is substantially at right angles to the lever 20 and its point 43 is slightly forwardly curved.

In operation, the handle portion 22 of the device is held at an upward angle to the can top 14 to be punched, and the lug 46 is engaged over the head 16 of the can top, with the lever 20 extending across the can top. Rotating the device downwardly toward the can top, with the lug 66 on the bead 16 serving as a fulcrum, the forward punch 42 pierces the can top, and further downward movement of the device causes the rear punch 26 to pierce the can top, so that holes 48 and 50 are produced in diametrically opposed portions of the can top 14, close to the bead 16.

Figures 4 and 5 show another form of the invention, generally designated 52, which is similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 3, except that the lever 54, which has a handle portion 56, has an extension 58 on its forward end which is engaged with the underside of the lever 54 and reaches to the handle portion 56. The forward punch 64, similar to the forward punch 42 of Figures 1 to 3, is cut out of the forward arm 63 of the reverse bent U-shape portion 62. A forwardly and downwardly extending can bead engaging lug 68 is provided on the forward punch 64, similar to the ing 66 of Figures 1 to 3. The rear punch 60, similar to the rear punch 26, is cut out of the rear part of the extension 58 rather than from the lever 54.

The form of the invention is shown in Figures 6 to 8, and generally designated 70, comprises a lever 72 having a return bent extension 76 on its rear end 74 which engages the underside of the lever 72 and terminates at the forward end in a rear punch 78, similar to the other rear punches described above. Otherwise the can punch is similar to Figures 1 to 3, and includes on its forward end a U-shaped portion 80 having a forward arm 83 terminating in a forward punch 82 and having therein a can head engaging lug 84.

It is to be observed that the form of the invention shown in Figures 6 to 8 requires fewer manufacturing steps than the other disclosed forms.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, as fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A can top punch comprising an elongated flat lever having forward and rear ends, a rearward portion of the lever constituting a handle, the rear end of the handle terminating in an extension extending forwardly along and engaged with the under side of the lever, a forwardly and upwardly inclined U-shaped portion on the forward end of the lever, said U-shaped portion having a rear arm and References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Meier et a1 Mar. 26, 1940 Gutekunst Dec. 16, 1952 Atwater et a1, Aug. 16, 1955 Caracciolo Nov. 15, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Austria July 25, 1933 

